Low Bed Structure for Car

ABSTRACT

A low bed structure for a car includes an inner frame, a bed board and a lifting device. The lifting device is mounted on the inner frame and includes a motor mounted on a center of the top bracket, a retractable rod connected with the motor, and a linking piece having a first end connected with the retractable rod and a second end connected with a substantially H-shaped support rack. In practice, the motor is operated to move the retractable rod which drives the H-shaped support rack to produce an angle variation of the H-shaped support rack so as to lift or lower the bed board. Thus, the motor is mounted on the top bracket of the inner frame and will not swing with the bed board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bed and, more particularly, to a lowbed structure for a car.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional low bed structure for a car in accordance with the priorart shown in FIG. 1 comprises an actuator 50 having two ends connectedwith a fixed rack 10 and a movable rack 20 respectively. The actuator 50includes a cylinder 52 and a push rod 54 retractably mounted on thecylinder 52. The cylinder 52 of the actuator 50 is secured on themovable rack 20. The push rod 54 of the actuator 50 is pivotally mountedon a protruding ear 100 of the fixed rack 10. In operation, when thepush rod 54 of the actuator 50 extends outward from the cylinder 52 ofthe actuator 50, the actuator 50 pushes the movable rack 20 upward, withthe protruding ear 100 functioning as a fulcrum, so that the movablerack 20 is driven by the actuator 50 to swing upward relative to thefixed rack 10. On the contrary, when the push rod 54 of the actuator 50retracts into the cylinder 52 of the actuator 50, the actuator 50 pullsthe movable rack 20 downward, so that the movable rack 20 is driven bythe actuator 50 to swing downward relative to the fixed rack 10.However, the actuator 50 is arranged on and will move with the movablerack 20, so that the actuator 50 easily sways or vibrates due to itsheavy weight, thereby affecting operation of the actuator 50 andmovement of the movable rack 20. In addition, the actuator 50 is easilyworn out or inoperative due to frequent vibration during a long-termutilization, thereby decreasing the lifetime of the actuator 50.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a low bedstructure for a car comprising an inner frame, a bed board and a liftingdevice. The inner frame supports the bed board. The bed board is mountedon the inner frame to cover the inner frame. The inner frame has a topbracket. The lifting device is mounted on the top bracket of the innerframe and includes a motor mounted on a center of the top bracket, aretractable rod connected with the motor, and a linking piece having afirst end connected with the retractable rod and a second end connectedwith a substantially H-shaped support rack. In practice, the motor isoperated to move the retractable rod which drives the H-shaped supportrack to produce an angle variation of the H-shaped support rack so as tolift or lower the bed board.

According to the primary advantage of the present invention, the motoris mounted on the top bracket of the inner frame and will not swing withthe bed board so that the motor is operated solidly and stably and willnot be vibrated, thereby preventing the motor from being worn out due tofrequent sway or vibration, so as to enhance the lifetime of the motor.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional low bed structure for acar in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a low bed structure for a car inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bed board of the low bed structure fora car in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the low bed structure being pivotedupward.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the low bed structure for a caras shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the low bed structure for acar as shown in FIG. 5, showing the low bed structure being pivoteddownward.

FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the low bed structure for acar as shown in FIG. 6, showing the low bed structure being pivoteddownward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 2 and 3, a low bedstructure for a car in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention comprises an inner frame 21, a bed board 22 and alifting device 23. The inner frame 21 supports the bed board 22. The bedboard 22 is mounted on the inner frame 21 to cover the inner frame 21.The inner frame 21 has a top bracket 211. The lifting device 23 ismounted on the top bracket 211 of the inner frame 21 and includes amotor 231 mounted on a center of the top bracket 211, a retractable rod232 connected with the motor 231, and a linking piece 233 having a firstend connected with the retractable rod 232 and a second end connectedwith a substantially H-shaped support rack 234.

In practice, the motor 231 is operated to move the retractable rod 232which drives and changes an angle of the H-shaped support rack 234 toproduce an angle variation of the H-shaped support rack 234 so as tolift or lower the bed board 22. In such a manner, the motor 231 ismounted on the top bracket 211 of the inner frame 21 and will not movewith the bed board 22 so that the motor 231 is operated solidly andstably and will not be vibrated so as to enhance the lifetime of themotor 231.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lifting device23 is arranged on a front portion 221 of the bed board 22 to lift orlower the front portion 221 of the bed board 22. The front portion 221of the bed board 22 can swing upward and downward. Thus, the motor 231is mounted on the top bracket 211 of the inner frame 21 and will notmove with the front portion 221 of the bed board 22.

When in use, the low bed structure is placed in a car, and a mattress isplaced on the low bed structure, so that the height of the low bedstructure has to be reduced to prevent the low bed structure from takingup too much space of the car. In general, the bed board 22 is placed onthe bottom of the interior of the car, and the lifting device 23 is usedto lift or lower the front portion 221 of the bed board 22 so as toadjust the inclined angle of the front portion 221 of the bed board 22.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 4-6 with reference to FIGS. 1-3, theretractable rod 232 extends from the motor 231 of the lifting device 23to function as the fulcrum of the pivoting action of the front portion221 of the bed board 22. When the retractable rod 232 is pushed forwardby the motor 231, the linking piece 233 is pivoted to drive and changethe angle of the H-shaped support rack 234 so as to gradually lift thefront portion 221 of the bed board 22 as shown in FIG. 5. On thecontrary, when the retractable rod 232 is pulled backward by the motor231, the linking piece 233 is pivoted reversely to drive and change theangle of the H-shaped support rack 234 so as to gradually lower thefront portion 221 of the bed board 22 as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the front portion 221 of the bed board 22approaches a flat state, the retractable rod 232 still has a determinedangle, so that the front portion 221 of the bed board 22 cannot bearranged in a flat manner completely. Thus, the front portion 221 of thebed board 22 is provided with a receiving hole 2211 to allow passage ofthe retractable rod 232, so that the front portion 221 of the bed board22 is disposed at a flat state completely without having to increase thethickness of the bed board 22.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the lifting device 23 isarranged on a rear portion of the bed board 22 to lift or lower the rearportion of the bed board 22. The rear portion of the bed board 22 canswing upward and downward. Thus, the motor 231 is mounted on the topbracket 211 of the inner frame 21 and will not move with the rearportion of the bed board 22. In such a manner, the lifting device 23 isused to lift or lower the rear portion of the bed board 22 so as toadjust the inclined angle of the rear portion of the bed board 22.

Accordingly, the motor 231 is mounted on the top bracket 211 of theinner frame 21 and will not swing with the bed board 22 so that themotor 231 is operated solidly and stably and will not be vibrated,thereby preventing the motor 231 from being worn out due to frequentsway or vibration, so as to enhance the lifetime of the motor 231. Inaddition, the bed board 22 has a reduced thickness to save the innerspace of the car.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many otherpossible modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated thatthe appended claim or claims will cover such modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

1. A low bed structure for a car comprising: an inner frame, a bed boardand a lifting device; wherein: the inner frame supports the bed board;the bed board is mounted on the inner frame to cover the inner frame;the inner frame has a top bracket; the lifting device is mounted on thetop bracket of the inner frame and includes: a motor mounted on a centerof the top bracket; a retractable rod connected with the motor; and alinking piece having a first end connected with the retractable rod anda second end connected with a substantially H-shaped support rack; andthe motor is operated to move the retractable rod which drives theH-shaped support rack to produce an angle variation of the H-shapedsupport rack so as to lift or lower the bed board.
 2. The low bedstructure for a car of claim 1, wherein the lifting device is arrangedon a front portion of the bed board.
 3. The low bed structure for a carof claim 1, wherein the lifting device is arranged on a rear portion ofthe bed board.